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Aluminum‐induced neo‐osteogenesis: A generalized process affecting trabecular networking in the axial skeleton
Author(s) -
Quarles L. Darryl,
Murphy Gayle,
Vogler James B.,
Drezner Marc K.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of bone and mineral research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.882
H-Index - 241
eISSN - 1523-4681
pISSN - 0884-0431
DOI - 10.1002/jbmr.5650050612
Subject(s) - skeleton (computer programming) , trabecular bone , chemistry , anatomy , axial skeleton , bone density , histology , osteoporosis , endocrinology , medicine
To determine if aluminum‐induced neo‐osteogenesis occurs in the axial skeleton, we compared spinal bone density and vertebral histology of beagles treated with aluminum for 8 and 16 weeks to that of untreated normals. Administration of aluminum (1.25 mg/kg) did not alter serum calcium, phosphorus, or creatinine but did result in a significant elevation of vertebral bone density, measured by quantitative computed tomography, after both 8 (286.7 ± 12.4 mg/ml) and 16 (361.7 ± 46.5 mg/ml) weeks of treatment compared with controls (212.2 ± 4.5 mg/ml). In accord with the increased bone density, biopsies from the spine displayed evidence of neo‐osteogenesis, including the presence of woven bone, both mineralized and unmineralized, within the marrow space. The genesis of such woven bone units resulted after 16 weeks in a significant increase in trabecular bone volume, woven and lamellar (51.2 ± 4.4 versus 32.4 ± 1.2%; p < 0.05), woven bone volume (9.1 ± 3.6 versus 0 ± 0%; p < 0.05), and trabecular number (4.5 ± 0.3 versus 3.5 ± 0.2 per mm; p < 0.05). In addition, scanning electron microscopic evaluation of the bone biopsies confirmed the existence of new trabecular plates that provided interconnections between existent units. These observations illustrate that aluminum‐induced neo‐osteogenesis positively influences trabecular networking in the axial skeleton. Such enhancement of bone histogenesis contrasts with the effects of other pharmacologic agents that solely alter the thickness of existing trabecular plates or rods within the vertebral spongiosa.